First at Five: Donut Debate

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:01]There is a battle brewing for your hot beverage bucks.

[00:00:04]>> Well, the donuts are pretty good. I liked them, but Tim Hortons is better.

[00:00:09]>> I think I'm still going to take a stick with Tim Hortons. I can't even tell you why. It's just different flavor. I like the flavor.

[00:00:15]>> Despite the claim from the big chain south of the border that Canada is about to run on Duncan, coffee afficionados we spoke with outside the Tim Hortons and member to said they're sticking with what they know. K Bretoners, Canadians, they're very loyal to Tim Hortons. As you see, it goes right to the NHL with Sydney Crosby, Nathan McKinnon, and so on.

[00:00:33]>> I heard Marshy brings his teddy bear to every game.

[00:00:37]>> Don't listen to them, Mr. Bear. They're just jealous.

[00:00:39]>> Indeed, the Timmy's brand has been backed by some serious Canadian star power.

[00:00:44]>> Justin, we know you've always loved Tims.

[00:00:47]>> Obsessed.

[00:00:47]>> Then again, a Hollywood A-lister did the same for Dunks.

[00:00:51]>> It's a great deal. A large coffee and a donut for a buck. I mean, think's pretty cool. So, I thought it' be like authentic and meta. Yes, I'm doing the commercial, but am I doing the commercial?

[00:00:58]>> I certainly do run on Duncan. Um, I I have uh I have probably five to eight Duncan cola brews like this one uh every single week.

[00:01:07]>> Dan Valo of Massachusetts might literally run on Duncan, but when he and his New England teammates come to the Cabat Trail Relay race later this month, they'll be switching brands for a weekend.

[00:01:17]>> It'll be my second time ever having Timmy's. But Valo was skeptical about Duncan's chances up north given what he saw when Tims ventured stateside >> and nobody went there because there was always a Dunks next door and uh and it was uh I feel like there there's the same kind of loyalty to Tims up there.

[00:01:35]>> Obviously Duncan was here for a long time previously and they packed up and left.

[00:01:40]>> Retail analyst Bruce Winder says most Canadians barely noticed when Duncan was here before, but it could be different this time. They're looking at targeting consumers 13 to 35, more of a young cool sort of crowd.

[00:01:53]>> He adds that Tims might now have a bit of vulnerability.

[00:01:57]>> You know, there's a lot of sort of um discussion on social media about potentially Tim's quality going down or their service going down.

[00:02:04]>> Could you imagine if we did a birthday cake waffle Timbit?

[00:02:09]>> So, if Duncan were to last up here, could they draw people in with some Canadian concoctions? I think I could see him getting like a poutine type of donut.

[00:02:19]>> And when it comes to the lukewarm feelings between the two countries these days, >> it could be like a cultural handshake between, you know, what we got down here and what they got up there.

[00:02:30]>> Now, here's a little known fact as per Bruce Swinder. He says the Tim Hortons is actually owned by a private equity company based in Brazil called 3G Capital. Most people, of course, wouldn't know that, and even if they do now, they might quickly forget or perhaps simply not care. Winder says that most people, like it or not, will likely continue to see Tim Hortons as a Canadian brand, especially in this time of elbows up, so to speak. Maria, >> thank you, Ryan. That is a lot of coffee